BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:48 PM

It might be familiar from ancient maps ... to the south of the known world they used to write "here there be dragons"

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:44 PM

That's a familiar title... where is it from originally?

It's going to bug me all night now.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:42 PM

Yup, like quite a few other people here, I was once a librarian. The films were made because the books were popular and if they were popular, it's because they were being read.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:41 PM

Thread drift--Liz and others. If you are desirous, PM me and I will forward "Once There Were Dragons," a tale/essay about why dragons seem to have become extinct, at least in public. It is much too long to type up here and I have not gotten around to publishing it. Eric

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:27 PM

Bang on L-the-S. It was kids that chose to make this character a phenomenon, not librarians.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:10 PM

Sod that, just getting most 7 year olds to read a book is hell's own job.... if they want to read HP and stick to it, why shouldn't they? Bratling loves them, even though she's just 7. She saw the films and still wanted to read the books.

Besides, this is the child who was found one day watching 'the Mummy', and laughing at the 'juicy' skeleton.

And as Ms Rowling answered one parent who criticised the violence and horror that Harry goes through ~ If you think this book is scary, you ought to try real life one day.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:09 PM

Like so many other things, you shouldn't give Harry or anything else to a child until she or he is ready for it. My 8 year old nephew, for instance, has read all four HP books and is reading the fifth. Other children might not be ready for any of them until into their teens.

PDC, at least you care. Lots don't and librarians, like teachers, see it. But don't use your grandchild as a ruler against which to measure all children. They are individuals and mature, physically, intellectually, and psychologically, at different rates. Statistics are wonderful, but they only apply to a large population -- and one isn't a large population. I'm afraid that all too often we lose sight of the individuality of children.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:01 PM

I don't think the wonderful first Harry Potter book is suitable for a 7-year-old child at all. Harry is 11 in the first book, and I think that's a good age for a child's introduction to the books. I just finished the 5th book in the series, and IMO, it shouldn't be read until the child is approximately 15 as well (Harry is 15 in the book).

For one thing, even the first book is too scary for a 7-year-old; in the second place, the kids get so much more out of these books when they are the right age for them.

I have them all for my grandson, who is 6. I'm just waiting a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Amergin
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 05:18 PM

well it's certainly no more violent than the bible...or the other various mythologies of the world....

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 04:56 PM

Buckbeak escaped and helped Harry. He was to be destroyed but that was all Lucious Malfoys doing. Wouldn't want him to have a happy ending now would we.

Keep up the outtakes. Can't take this stuff too seriously. What's more violent? HP or GWB?

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: clueless don
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 04:44 PM

Not that it matters, but I *suspect* that the book GUEST,leeneia was talking about was "The Prisoner of Azkaban", and that the "dragon" she/he seems to remember was in fact the Hippogriff, Buckbeak. Of, course, I may be wrong.

I love the books myself, and am patiently waiting for "Order of the Phoenix" to come out in paperback.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 03:08 PM

Norbert was NOT euthanised... he was sent to Romania, to a sanctuary where one of Ron's brothers worked... Bill I think?

Odd that I forget the humans' name but remember the dragon.

Actually, no, not odd at all, given that I share a house with only 2 humans (if you can call Bratling human) but some 500+ dragons.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Amos
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 02:34 PM

Thanks, darlin' --but I am far and away not the only or the most funny guy in this neck of the owods!! :>)


A

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 01:40 PM

Actually, I rather like the HP books, as do every kid I know. They do require Coleridge's "willing suspension of disbelief," though.

Personally, I think that Bettelheim is right in saying that literature helps prepare children. My mother used to read us the Arthurian stories, and ever since I've been ready to pull that sword out of the stone and rule all England as the rightful king.

There's also "Terence, this is stupid stuff."

I started writing the HP outakes a couple of years ago (yes, I confess, I wrote them and wattayagonnadoaboutit, huh?) simply because I have a hard time taking a lot of stuff seriously -- and because I liked the use of language in the books.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Mudlark
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 01:26 PM

It's hot, the air is smoky, casting fear upon the land and I've a load of laundry and much housecleaning to do before the next onslaught of houseguests. And then...Mudcat! The pause that refreshes. A great thread.

Amos, you are a funny man! And I mean that in the best poss way.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:53 PM

there are a lot of sites out there trying to come up with "Butterbeer" recipes - most of which sound disgusting...

I would think that a homemade "rootbeer" type concoction could be done using Butterscotch flavouring and yeast - just enough fementation to make it "sparkle" that would be much tastier then the combinations of melted butter and soda that many sites are reccomending.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:47 PM

I'm wondering, leenia, if you've read Bruno Bettelheim's "Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairytales"? There are many who disagree with him, but his main thesis was that fairytales allow children to explore dangerous situations imaginatively while knowing they are physically safe. While there are many parts of his books I don't agree with myself, I do feel that it is not a good idea that all violence and uncomfortable ideas are expunged from books for seven year olds.

All of this drift is far too serious for this thread, let's get back to the silliness.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:27 PM

as a matter of fact - weren't Harry's parents killed when he was an infant and he has no recollection of the scene at all?

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:26 PM

don't remember those scenes at all!

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:20 PM

In the book I read, a gang of thugs guns down Harry's mother and father as Harry looks on. Later, an animal (small dragon, if I recall) is euthanized at the behest of the school bully. Our emotions are much manipulated as we share the other children's helpless rage over this. (The dragon is miraculously resurrected in the hokey last chapter.)

I consider all that too violent.

I have a little friend, age 7, whose father reads to her. They tried the Potter books, and she told me herself that they quit reading them because they were too violent.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:13 PM

I keep hearing the Potter books described as violent - but I don't see them as violent at all - maybe I just have a higher threshhold?

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 12:04 PM

As a former librarian myself, I'm glad to see that others don't idolize the Harry Potter books. I actually read one once, for I was crossing the Atlantic and was desperate for something to pass the time. I found it hackneyed, filmi, and much too violent. Its happy ending was simply wrenched into place, for the author had apparently written herself into a cul-de-sac, then decided the book was long enough.

Parents, there are a lot better books of magic and fantasy down at your public library.

NB: "Filmi" is a wonderful new word I got from a book set in India. It means that something in real life slavishly imitates something in the movies. Spread it around, would you?

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Amos
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 11:56 AM

It raises an interesting question. We generally hear that good, intelligent people have a Dark Side, or are sometimes overcome by the Dark Side, or some such. I suspect that what bothers Evil Forces the most is that they will be overtaken by the Dull Side, and find themselves in the grip of an uncontrollable impulse to do nothing very interesting, or wake up stupid. A sort of satanic nightmare...


A

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,Desdemona at work
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 11:53 AM

It's obvious that WS will be the next Defense Against the Dark Arts
teacher. Unfortunately, his only countercurse will be, "Must...resist..."!

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 11:05 AM

No! WS will have the role of a new ghost - Almost Dickless Amadeus

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Gareth
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 11:01 AM

Oh Damn - I misread the title - thought it was about Harry Pollit

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 10:50 AM

What role will WS take in the next HP fillum, LH?

One of the posing potraits on the staircase??

:0)

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Amos
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 10:20 AM

Got that right, LH.

Face to face with the deepest and most immediate evil she had ever seen in the world, Hermione was frozen with fear. Weakly, lost in his deep glowering stare, she wiggled her wand with one finger, and managed to whisper "Williamus Shatneri" in a dry and terrified voice.

The evil spell evaporated, and Voldemere -- the lord of terror, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the tower of incarnate evil and fear, blinked, overcome by a cloud of insipid dullness that seemed to transform him. He staggered back, and looked around him stupidly.

"Gee!", he said. "What was that? Was that a magic spell? Hey, that was purty good!"

Hermione couldn't believe her ears....


A

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 10:09 AM

There has also been no mention of either Bob Dylan or William Shatner in any of the Harry Potter books as yet. I thought I'd mention it, because I doubt that anyone else will.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Grab
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 08:32 AM

I remember a little while back seeing a bit of HP fan-fiction involving a naked Quidditch match, presented as emails between the various people. That was a total scream. I'll dig it out if anyone wants.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 06:16 AM

"Hermione", gasped Harry, "I do love the way that you perform that spell completely orally".

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: MudGuard
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 03:37 AM

Rapaire, where can I buy this adult version? ROFL!

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 03:22 AM

LMAO, thanks!!

Subject: RE: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 10:24 PM

Well, that certainly pops THAT little bubble, doesn't it??? ">))

A

Subject: BS: Stuff left out of Harry Potter
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 10:20 PM

Being a librarian, I have Certain Contacts. As a result, here is some stuff that was left out of the Harry Potter books published so far. I knew that y'all would appreciate them

---------------
            
    Harry gazed up and greater fear than he'd ever known before in his life stabbed through him. At the same time his scar blazed with such pain that he collapsed, staring up at the sign swinging in the gentle breeze, the sign reading "Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, Attorneys-At-Law."
                               **
    "Of course there are girls upstairs at the Three Broomsticks! Why do you think they call her MADAME Rosemurta, anyway?" asked George incredulously.
                               **
    "Harry," said Hermione quietly, "these tests don't lie. You have to face the fact that Severus Snape is your father."
                               **
    "For God's sake, Weasley," drawled Malfoy, "roll off her and let Crabbe show you how it's done."
                               **
    When Snape had his back turned again, Hermione whispered to Ron, "You know, you can stir around in my cauldron anytime."
                               **
    She flicked her long black wand against her tight leather pants and purred, "It's MISTRESS Ginny, Potter, MISTRESS Ginny. Now get down on your belly and beg Mistress's forgiveness like a good little worm."
                               **
    McGonigle pointed her wand at Dumbledore and shouted "Viagra!"
                               **
    "Great man, Dumbledore," murmured Hagrid. "A bit of a twit, but a great man all the same."
                               **
    "Ah, Harry," said Hermione, looking pale. "You know the other night...and, well, I got the spell wrong...and, oh, Harry, you were right! You were right! The words WERE 'Contra ceptio' and not 'Pro ceptio' What are we going to do?! Harry?.. Harry?"
                               **
    "Harry," whispered Angelina, "why don't you let me show you some positions you won't find on the Quidditch field?"
                               **
    "Sorry, Malfoy," grinned Harry. "I thought it was the snitch. You know, you really should either wear underwear or fasten your robes when you play Quidditch or accidents like this will happen."
                        **
In a blaze of anger Harry pointed his wand at Ron and Hermione and shouted, "Coitus interruptus!"
                        **
Harry looked up lazily from his place on the ground, up the shapely leg to the short wizard's robe that fit tightly around the well-shaped figure, past the teasing green eyes to the flaming red hair, and said, smiling, "My goodnes Ginny! You're all grown up, aren't you?"